Mr Hooper added: “We’re so grateful that young people who wouldn’t have been able to access this opportunity were able to and had a great time doing it.

“It means a lot to South Hill Park, to us personally and to the children who have benefitted.

“When it all comes together after two weeks of us telling them where to stand, to see them come alive on stage, it’s something really special.”

The summer school which took place at the arts centre from Monday, July 29, to Friday, August 8, with performances on Saturday, August 9, and Sunday, August 10, saw 79 four to 18-year-olds rehearse and perform an original musical.

The script, written by Chantal Addley and Joe Malyan, and score, by Tim Cumper, were handed to the group on Monday before they spent 10 days working 9am to 5pm to get it ready for the stage at The Wilde Theatre.

Mr Hooper, who also co-directed the show, said: “We always do an original show and this year the show was called The Last Hope of Pandora, about Greek myths.

“The is the first year we’ve had a completely sold-out audience on both days. We’re always a little bit shocked by how much they do.

“Professional actors get three weeks to prepare for a full-length show and for some of our young people it’s the first time they’ve set foot on stage.

“We’re always astounded that they rise to the challenge and every year they make it bigger and better.”